Page 56 - Solution, the values of the Qurʼan

54 SOLUTION THE VALUES OF THE QUR'AN

organization, the food rots before
reaching its destination. Associations They will ask you
are set up to organize this aid. what they should give
However, these associations lack away. Say, 'Any
credibility, since they are often full of wealth you give away
corruption. should go to your
Behind the failure to reach parents and relatives
concrete solutions lie egoism, vested and to orphans and
interests, ambition, heedlessness and the very poor and
other similar moral weaknesses. The travelers.' Whatever
only way to end these moral good you do, Allah
imperfections is to communicate the knows it. (Surat al-
Qur'an to people and remind them Baqara: 215)
that we will give an account of all our
acts in the hereafter.
As in the previous examples of the issues regarding health and
education, justice will end many problems around the world. However,
one point deserves special mention here: when we say fair distribution,
one should not understand that everything will be available to everyone
everywhere in the same amounts. What is actually meant is meeting
people's needs completely. Surely, a special irrigation system employed
in the deserts will not be of use elsewhere. Similarly, one would not
expect a nation to send medicine to another country while there is a need
for it within that country itself. Furthermore, it is not essential that every
citizen should possess exactly the same amount of possessions. What
really matters is that there should not be some people indulging in
extravagance while, next to them, there are people suffering from
poverty. The avoidance of an unbridgeable gap between poor and rich is
essential.
Once the command of Allah, "They will ask you what they should
give away. Say whatever is surplus to your needs." (Surat al-Baqara: 219)
is adhered to, the fair distribution which will lead societies to peace will
spontaneously appear.